City Councilwoman Petitti Announces Decision not to Seek a Fourth Term

After serving on the Sammamish City Council for nearly 10 years, Michele Petitti has announced that she will not seek a fourth term.

Petitti informed Councilmembers at Tuesday night's meeting, she said. "I was going to wait until June to make this announcement but decided to do it now so the community would have more time for candidates to...come forward," she wrote in an email.

The time, she said, will help people raise campaign money and get the word out about why they want to serve. In her last election, she added, she received and spent over $12,000 in contributions.

Mayor Don Gerend praised Petitti for bringing a broad perspective and dedication to the job, especially given her background in the nonprofit community.

"It's been a real delight having Michele on the Council," he said Wednesday. "When I was mayor in 2005, she was deputy mayor. We worked well together as a team."

Her full-time job is with the Greater Seattle YMCA as the director of development for the Eastside. She works at the Coal Creek Family YMCA in Newcastle.

During her Council career, she worked on numerous public policy projects with colleagues, city staff, community members and school officials.

She is particularly proud of helping to open the skate park at , and ball fields at and high schools. She also is happy that the city has built sidewalks for residents, especially on Southeast 24th Street. 

"Getting the was a big endeavor," she said.

Even though she will not seek another election, she is looking forward to the remaining policy work for the year.

"I've still got many months of work ahead," she said. "I obviously will stay tuned and follow the community center process. I may have another role to play in that if the city does partner with the Y."

The city is considering whether it wants to build a , one which might have a swimming area. Many residents have expressed interest in such a facility, officials have said.

Petitti, who is knowledgable about equestrian issues, joined the Council in 2002. Her first term lasted for two years because the city government had to adjust to a regular electoral cycle, she said.

After the original Council, she was the first "newbie."

At the time, she was not working full time and participated in growth management and transportation issues in the region. "I learned a lot," she said.

On the Council, she replaced Phil Dyer. She ran twice against Karen Moran and once against Will Sadler. 

Gerend said Wednesday that her decision was not a complete surprise.

"She's been working hard at the Y. It's very difficult to have a full time job and devote a lot of time to the Council," he said.

In her email, Petitti recalled when she first joined the Council. "I remember taking the oath of office when my daughter Renee was just 11 years old. Now she is a young adult - 21 years old and graduating from college this summer!" she wrote.  
 
"I am looking forward to having at least 6 nights per month back. I might even consider rejoining a book club."

A few years ago, she had considered working in state government in Olympia. But on Wednesday, she explained that she is no longer interested in that type of work.

Petitti, Gerend and Tim Larson, the city spokesman, said they have not heard of anyone who has publicly expressed interest in serving on the Council.

It is likely, Gerend said, that candidates might come from the city's commissions, such as parks, arts and planning.

Editor's note: Before I became editor of Sammamish Patch, I worked at the Coal Creek Family YMCA.